Just thought I would write a quick post before going into work. Hannah and I will be joining some friends this evening for Thanksgiving dinner. I hope that all of you are having a wonderful day and safe travel.

Last night I received the final rough cut of All For You. I have attached it below this post for you to listen to. So please keep in mind there is still a lot yet to do. However, I think it really shows where the project can go and is headed. Thanks for all of you love and support this year, it means so much!

Friday's session was a lot of fun. It was great to jump back in after being away from the project for a little while. As mentioned in my last post, we specifically worked on "All For You". This is the first song we have ever tried to do even a partial mix on, and the results really have astounded us. I have to admit, I never thought this project would sound as well as it does already, and it is not even mixed or mastered! It is really coming together! Unfortunately I don't quite have the song ready to share, as we need to tweak a few things in the mix. However, I should have it in the next few days, and I think you will really enjoy it.

Hello everyone, long time no talkie! Truthfully there has not been much to talk about... However, I hope for that to change soon. Hannah and I have been busy working full time hours at Starbucks while we figure out how to complete the album. This will be the last big push to finish everything, which means delivery of the album. There is still a lot to figure out, so your prayers will be much appreciated.

I will be heading back in the studio to finish an early mix of All For You, with a full band, and a full orchestral arrangement. I am very excited, because I think this will help give a feel for where we wish the rest of the project to head. I will be posting this song sometime over the weekend, so make sure to come back by to check it out. Look forward to sharing more soon.

This weekend I had a show in Rock Island, Illinois. It went very well, and I had a lot of fun! Thank you all for showing up, I had a great time!

Today (technically yesterday now), October 10th, was my first day back on the job at Starbucks. The evening was pretty slow, which was nice for getting back into the swing of things. Around 8:00 PM I was vacuuming out the espresso machine, when I saw a customer walk in. I did a double take, as he looked JUST LIKE Steve Ballmer. For those of you who may not know, Steve Ballmer is now the acting CEO of Microsoft. (Or very close, I cannot remember). I went over to my register, and asked how his day was. Then I said, "You really look like someone familiar..." He said, "Now who would that be". I responded, "I would have to say you look like Steve Ballmer". Then he said, "Then you would be correct".

In case you did not know, I am a huge nerd. I watch documentaries about the history of computing in my free time, and Steve Ballmer has been in my top 10 list of who I would love to meet. I primarily use a Macintosh as my main computer, but that does not mean I hate Microsoft. They have done some incredible things, and are such an amazing company...

Anywho, because of this, and because of my studies on the history of computing, I said, "I am a huge fan". He stopped and said, "Thanks! That sure means a lot". I then asked him what brought him to Northwest Arkansas. His response? "Take a guess" I said, "Well, I think I have an idea but..." He responded, "I am here for a Wal-Mart presentation tomorrow". I hope that his latte and 3 pastries helped him to have a better evening. Sure was cool to meet one of the most influential people in the computer industry, and that he was patient as I fumbled at my register. What a cool day.

These last few weeks have been really, really busy. For instance, yesterday I woke up at 3 AM to work from 4:30 to 10:30, came home for a few hours, and then worked 7PM to 11:50PM. Working this hard is helping give me even more motivation to get the CD done. We don't know how yet, but are doing what we need to in the meantime to get by.

I can definitely say this has been one of the most difficult months of my life, but it feels good to be at the end. We didn't know how we would get through, but then we got our jobs.

I am very excited about the show next weekend in Rock Island. It will be fun to be playing again. A few months ago when we planned it, I had hoped that Grandpa Kratzer could come, but I am thankful I got to see him twice recently. Speaking of him, both Hannah and I were able to make it to the funeral. We have been having a myriad of car problems, and the family came together to help us fly out. It was a beautiful reflection of the life of such a well respected and Godly man. I will leave you with our last pictures together:

Last night I planned to stay up until I heard the news about my grandfather. By 7:00 AM I was wiped, and figured I would grab a bit of sleep. I got a call at 9:00 AM from my mother. Ernest Kratzer passed at 8:30 AM on September 10, 2007. It is a bittersweet occasion. His wife, my grandmother, died a year ago. He has been ready to go ever since.

I remember being a child and so fascinated by his amazing train setup. Hopefully in the next day or two I can locate a picture of this. Anyways, when I was a child, him and grandma had a mobile home. They also had a shed about half the size of the mobile home that housed their train setup. When I would visit, we would go out and see it.

Grandpa also loved fish (and fishing). According to my mother, they had a basement full of fish tanks and fish growing up!

Grandpa was not a rich man by the world's standards, but that does not say much. Well, perhaps it does, but in a different way. Ernest's treasures were where it really counted; in the next life.

When my mother was in her late high school years, my grandparents agreed to be the foster home for two children; Holly and Alan Burnett. As it turns out, they are now a part of the family, just as much as us who are direct descendant.

Ernest Kratzer lived a full life touching others. Even yesterday, I heard that he was quoted as saying, "I am keeping all of you up!" His humor stayed intact to the very end, and he went peacefully at 8:30 yesterday morning.

I have been asked to play at the funeral, and while it seemed impossible to make the trip a few days ago, it looks like it will be possible now.

Hannah and I will leave tomorrow (Tuesday) around 12 in the morning, and make the 12 hour trip to Rock Island. Please be praying for us, as we currently do not have reliable transportation. I have been asked to play at the funeral service, and will be sharing "Great Is The Lord".

Unfortunately along with everything else, we just found out that the alternator in our second vehicle, the one I drive (a 1990 Honda Civic) is bad. Turns out that Auto Zone gave us a faulty one to replace our old one.... So we will need to make the trip in our Sidekick. Please be praying for us, we need it.

And on top of everything else, it appears that I am coming down with a severe cold. I just hope that by Thursday morning I will be able/ready to sing.

Thanks for the prayers. I am sorry to turn the end of this post towards our needs, but we definitely need the prayer. I have been joking with my new co-workers at Starbucks that I should write a job called "How not to start a job".

God has blessed us beyond comprehension. Hannah and I just began new jobs, and we will be allowed to leave for a couple of days to attend this funeral. We are blessed so much.

Thanks again for the prayers. We love and appreciate every one of you.